Easton Vs Louisville Slugger Softball Bats [Mano-a-Mano]

When the two titans of softball bats clash, there will be fireworks. Both Easton and Louisville Slugger have passionate supporters who would vouch for them. And is one titan better than the other? Or is it a stalemate? Who takes the crown in an Easton vs. Louisville Slugger showdown?

Actually, to tone this chaos down, I have selected two softball bats, each from Easton and Louisville Slugger. Of which one is high-end and the other economical. I had the luxury of using all the four bats mentioned here as a perk of being a softball coach.

So, I have put down the features and specifications of each bat and pitched them against each other. Plus, I talk about the good, bad, and ugly of all the 4 bats. This way, you will have a clear idea of what these bats bring to the table. Once you have all the numbers and the nitty-gritty, you can put an end to the debate yourself.  

With that said, you should know that the bat itself matters more than the brand. So, it’s bat over brand – before you discard all softball bats from one brand, remember this one-liner. Let’s get to it.

Easton Ghost Double Barrel vs Louisville Slugger LXT

There is no doubt that the Ghost Double Barrel is one of the most popular softball bats in the Ghost series. Some may consider it the best softball bat, but if you look closely, the LXT is a strong contender against it. Both these bats are worth about $400. The Slugger may be a bit more expensive depending on the weight drop ratio and the bat length. 

So, before I get into all the details, you can start by taking a look at the chart below. The chart here gives you a basic idea of what both these bats have in store.

Specifications

Bat Construction

You can see a lot of similarities between the dimensions and the construction of the two bats. Both the Easton Ghost Double Barrel and Louisville are made out of composite material and have the same barrel diameter of 2 ¼ inches.

Both have what it takes to claim the title of the best composite softball bat. But I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s a discussion for another time.

They both offer four weight drop options: -8, -9, -10, and -11. And they have received certification stamps from ASA, USSSA, ISA, NSA, and WBSC. The only minor difference between the two is the bat length. The Louisville Slugger LXT offers a range that starts from 28 inches and goes up to 34inches. But the Eastern Ghost Double Barrel begins at 29 inches and ends at 34 inches.

Barrel Design

As the name suggests, the Double barrel has an inner and an outer wall. The sonic composite material used to design the bat enhances its durability. It enables the barrel to have the lowest compression. You will hear an immeasurable resonating pop throughout the field. And the crisscross orientation of its pattern makes it very flexible.

Now, the connector piece is manufactured with ConneXion technology that gives the bat a stiffer feel around the joint. This makes the softball bat act like one solid unit.

So here, there are two advantages, in particular. One, the connector prevents the vibrations from the barrel from reaching the batter’s hand. Two, since it makes the bat stiffer, you will be able to generate more power while hitting the ball. Both power hitters and contact hitters will love this bat.

The LXT Slugger, on the other hand, is designed with a single disc speed composite. The Powder bed fusion (PBF) technology used makes the barrel lighter, gives it a bigger sweet spot, and enhances its performance. So even if you don’t hit a grand slam, you will hear a resounding pop!

It also has an interesting VCX2 Vibration Connection System. This patented elastomeric connection reduces the vibration from the contact point and delivers a feel that is still unrivaled. Also, it adds more flex to the barrel, which makes it ideal for contact hitters.

Two-Piece Vs. Three-Piece

We usually come across a one-piece or a two-piece bat, but it is quite rare to find a three-piece softball bat! The 2022 LXT Louisville Slugger is actually a three-piece design, and the Easton Double barrel is a two-piece softball bat.

Apart from the barrel and the handle, the VCX2 Vibration Connection system of the Slugger is considered a third piece. It acts as an independent part- it dampens the mis-hits, mitigates the vibrations, and directs the energy to the barrel.

In the Double barrel, you have the barrel and the handle with a connector piece in the middle. The connector isn’t considered a separate piece.

Endcap and Grip

In the Easton Double Barrel, you will find that the handle and the grip are quite standard. It is Ultra-Thin, about 29/32 inch, with a Powerboost soft knob and a cushioned grip of about 1.8mm.  The LXT Slugger has the COPA Performance End Cap. Coupled with the Speed Composite design of the barrel, it improves the performance of the bat by giving it maximum sweet spots.

And if you’re looking for the best fastpitch softball bat for power hitters, the LXT Slugger should be great because of the added sweet spots. As for the grip, it has the LS PRO comfort grip. Most of the Louisville Sluggers sport the LS PRO. It is a perfect blend of cushion and tack that enables you to swing comfortably.

Features

Easton Cyclone Vs Louisville Slugger 2022 Diva

If you want a more budget-friendly softball bat without compromising much with the quality, then I would suggest you take a look at the Easton Cyclone and the Louisville Slugger Diva. These two fastpitch bats are worth under $55; the Cyclone is the cheaper. It is priced at $30. But, it’s not just about the price; you need to look at the quality of the bat that you are getting in return.

Specifications

The Differences in Key Features

Here are the features of the two bats.

Bat Construction

It is quite obvious from the chart that Louisville Slugger Diva falls short when it comes to the selection of bat range. While Easton Cyclone has a range that starts from 28 inches and goes up to 34 inches, Diva starts from 27 inches and ends at 31 inches.

Both these softball bats have received certification from all the major league associations such as USSSA, ASA, NSA, ISA, and WBSC. If you are still worried about the authenticity of the bats, then you can look for the certification stamps either on the handle or on the barrel.

As for the weight drop, neither of these bats offers a range. The Cyclone features a length-to-weight ratio of -10, and the Diva features -11.5. These bats are specifically designed for young players. The Cyclone, especially, is perfect for kids between the age groups of 6 and 9.

Barrel Design

Both of the softball bats have the same barrel diameter of 2 ¼ inches. But there is a difference in the construction material. Cyclone is manufactured out of military-grade ALX50 aluminum, whereas Diva is made out of aluminum alloy.

The Easton cyclone has an extended barrel design that gives the bat a large surface area for sweet spots. It extends down to the barrel and gives the player every opportunity to take a hit. 

The lightweight design of the Diva makes it easier for players who are taking their first swings. It has a balanced swing weight. With this, they won’t have any trouble handling the bat throughout the game.

One-Piece Vs Two-Piece

Cyclone and Diva both come in one-piece construction. A one-piece bat is a continuous solid piece of construction with no buffer in between. So, you won’t have any collars or connection systems interrupting in between.

Now, there are advantages and disadvantages to a one-piece bat. Let me begin with the disadvantage. Obviously, since there is no collar, there is nothing to stop the vibrations coming from the center of the barrel. This was a major issue in the past.

So, if you are worried about any incoming vibrations every time you make contact, rest assured that the materials and the method of construction used to design modern bats make them more forgiving than their predecessors.

One of the advantages of a one-piece softball bat is that you don’t lose any power when you strike the ball. This is because it has less flex and it is stiff, so more energy gets transferred while hitting the ball.

Another advantage is that you get true feedback. Any time there is a mis-hit, you will notice a ton of vibrations traveling back to the handle.

Endcap and Grip

If we are comparing the endcaps of the two, then the Cyclone has a pro-style concave end cap which is great for distributing the weight throughout the barrel. That’s why you will have a more balanced feel during the game. As for Diva, the end cap is pretty standard. The handle is made out of wood.

In the case of the grip, Cyclone has Vibration Reduction System (VRS) cushion grip, a feature I believe is much needed in the case of one-piece softball bats. Louisville Slugger Diva has a standard synthetic leather grip that gives you a comfortable and cushiony feeling. Plus, you are in control of the bat.

If it were up to me, I would probably go for a softball bat that is shock absorbent like the Cyclone. Although you will get good feedback from the Slugger, many a time, you would simply prefer a vibration dampener over the other.

Features

Closing Thoughts

After assessing these bats, if you are still not satisfied, then I would suggest you take a look at other softball bats. Trust me. There are tons of great ones out there. But do some homework on a good bat beforehand.

As a rookie, I never went in for the expensive bats. They were way beyond my league. Now, it’s different. If I were to choose, then I would go for the Easton Ghost Double Barrel, hands down! But that’s only because it goes with my batting style, and I don’t have any issues with the bat length.

Easton 2022 Ghost has a serious durability issue. It’s a really hot bat. So, it fires on all cylinders right out of the box. But it can die pretty quickly as well. That’s why people who want more balance should definitely go for the LXT Slugger 2022. I hope the comparisons, number crunching, and recommendations didn’t put you to sleep. What can you do – numbers are either boring or intimidating. But it’s the best way to evaluate. So, who wins? I’ll leave it up to you. Cheers!